Countdown to Visit Malaysia Year 2026

Visit Malaysia Year is a periodic campaign to showcase Malaysia as a premier Asian tourist destination. Introduced in 1990 with the theme ‘Fascinating Malaysia. Year of Festivals,’ the campaign has evolved with various iconic taglines and lineups, consistently drawing a significant number of tourists.

After facing disruptions for the campaign, notably due to the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Malaysia is gearing up for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

With only two years left, the coming year becomes essential for tourism stakeholders to prepare and bounce back resiliently from challenges. This period sets the groundwork for a robust comeback.

According to the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato’ Sri Tiong King Sing, 2024 is a crucial preparation period for the highly anticipated Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

With this national event on the horizon, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) is actively working to capitalise on the momentum and lay a solid foundation
for future success. This includes supporting Visit State Year 2024, which is set to unfold in Perak, Melaka, Kelantan, and Perlis as each state actively prepares for this landmark occasion.

ENHANCING MALAYSIA’S ACCESSIBILITY

“In further strengthening our efforts to enhance Malaysia’s appeal to global tourists, MOTAC is actively working to improve the country’s accessibility by forging strategic collaborations with local government organisations and international partners, with a particular emphasis on fostering strong ties within the Southeast Asian region,” said Tiong.

MOTAC is also encouraging airlines to increase accessibility from Muslim regions to Malaysia.

“A case in point is our recent discussions with a few China airlines to develop flights from Ningxia and Xining city to Malaysia.”

He also revealed that MOTAC was currently in the process of enhancing accessibility across land, water, and air, along with the implementation of visa facilities that cater to the convenience of tourists. Additionally, there is a focus on developing distinctive and enticing tourism products and packages.

TAPPING FURTHER INTO THE MUSLIM TOURIST MARKET

Tiong highlighted that Malaysia’s potential as a leading Islamic tourism destination lies not just in its diverse attractions but also in its welcoming Muslim landscape.

The country’s Islamic identity ensures that Muslims can travel to Malaysia with confidence due to an ecosystem specifically designed to cater to the faith-based needs of Muslim visitors. This includes readily available halal food options, prayer facilities, and other amenities that ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

“MOTAC encourages tourism industry players to work closely with the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), which offers expertise in strategic tourism research and market intelligence as well as provides training and capacity-building services, standards development, recognition, and advisory services.

“Our approach is to encourage more tourism industry players to subscribe to ITC’s recognition programmes. The two notable recognition programmes ITC offers are its Muslim-friendly Tourism and Hospitality Assurance and Recognition (MFAR) and Muslim-Friendly Tourist Guide (MFTG). These programmes ensure that tourism products and services in Malaysia meet ITC’s standards and guidelines for Muslim-Friendly Tourism and Hospitality (MFTH). “

MY RAMADAN EXPERIENCE PACKAGES AND MORE

To tap further into the Muslim tourist market segment, Tiong shared that MOTAC’s agencies, namely ITC and Tourism Malaysia, were working together with tourism industry players to develop specially tailored travel packages called “MY Ramadan Experience” packages. These packages offer a unique opportunity for Muslim travellers worldwide to experience the joys of celebrating Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr in Malaysia.

“Another strategy unveiled this year involves the establishment of Malaysia as an Umrah hub that goes beyond being a mere transit point for Umrah journeys made by pilgrims in the region. Instead, this initiative reflects a broader and more progressive vision.

“It opens up greater opportunities for the country’s economic growth through the tourism sector in the long run. By providing the best facilities through MFTH packages, we can attract Muslim tourists on their way to or back from Mecca and Madinah, where they can explore the tourist attractions in Malaysia,” shared Tiong.

In another development, MOTAC also officially signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Uzbekistan to serve the common interests of both countries and contribute to the socio-economic development of their respective populations with several significant areas of collaboration over the next decade (2023-2033). These include promotion and marketing, bolstering air connectivity, research, training, and development, and promoting Muslim-friendly tourism.

PREPARING FOR VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2026

“As we embark on the exciting journey towards Visit Malaysia Year 2026, I am confident that harnessing the collective strengths of our industry, such as your continuous dedication, commitment to excellence, and willingness to embrace new opportunities, will be instrumental in shaping the future of tourism in Malaysia. We also encourage you to explore emerging opportunities.

“With the growing Muslim tourist segment, gaining MFAR recognition is a strategic step towards attracting and catering to this valuable market.

“MOTAC, through ITC, stands ready to assist you in this journey, offering valuable consultation services and comprehensive training programmes. Together, we can make Visit Malaysia Year 2026 a resounding success,” Tiong concluded. – RnR